Driving and running gear for agricultural machines and the like



. 0. FRANKMAN. DRIVING AND RUNNING GEAR FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATlON FILED AUG-14. 1919.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- 0. FRANKMAN.

DRIVING AND RUNNING GEAR FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.I4. I9I9.

1 337510, mm Apr. 2@, m0.

2 SHEETS-SHIEET 2.

lJhlllTEl) *SFFTOE.

oLor rnannivran, or MALI/I6, SWEDEN.

DRIVING AND RUNNIEG NES AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, Gnor FRANKMAN, a citizen of gweden, residing at Malmo, Sweden, have into ted new and useful Improvements in Driving and Running for Li.- icultural Machines and the like, oi which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to driving and running gears for agricultural machines, such as beet harvesting machines and the like.

As the dimensions and the weight or" s machines are increased, especially in me driven machines, the necessary width of the wheel rim is also increased in such a way that the wheels cannot pass between the beet rows, when the former are given a width necessary for carrying the machine on r loose ground. This disadvantage may avoided by using two narrower wheels instead of one broader, said narrower wheels being placed at such a distance from each other that they pass between three adjacent plant rows. W hen such win wheels are used, the growing plants will not be spoiled, but simultaneously great dificulties will arise in the handling 01 the machine, as it will be very difiicult to turn the same around and the machine will require a very large Split for turning in order to prevent the wheels from digging intothe ground. In order avoid these dilliculties the driving wheels ought to be connected with each other and with the driving mechanism in a certain manner as indicated below.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Figures 1 and 2 show one form oi the invention in elevation and plan. 3 is an end view and Fig. l is a section through the hub portions of the wheels.

According to the invention the machine frame 1 is carried partially by the steering wheels 2 but substantially by two wheels on each side of the frame, the outer whom and the inner wheel 4:. The distance between the outer and inner wheel at both sides is such that the central planes oil these wheels erpendicular to the axle coincide with the central. lines in the interspaces between three adjacent plant rows. The distance hetween the two wheels l corr sponds to the number or plant rows to be worked by the passing machine. This distance may vary according to the caps of the machine, the distance shown in the itented Apr. 2%}, 1924).

drawing corresponding to two plant rows.

(Fig. 3).

The wheels l are provided with rims oi gear wheels 6 engaging with pinions "I' mounteci on the axle 8 in the center oi the machine. All the driving and running wheels 3, e are loosely mounted on the common shaft 9 and in order to permit the wheels 3 and i, on one side, to rotate in re lation to the wheels 3 and d, on the other side, to facilitate the turning of the machine a differential gear 10 is mounted on the axle 8 between the wheels 7, the housing of said diiierential gear being provided with a sprocket 11 for a chain 12 running over a driving wheel 13 placed on an intermediate shaft 14 mounted in the frame. The shall it is mounted in the central portion of the frame and has a sprocket 16 mounted thereon for a chain 17 running over a chain wheel 18 mounted on the motor shaft 20 which is provided with a flywheel 19. Thus by means of the differential gear 10, all driving wheels are independent of each other, though they cooperate to propel the machine, and turning of the same can take place in the smallest possible space.

As the working machinery when turning;- is almost without exception idle and parts working in the ground are disengaged, it will be evident that less power is neces sary for propelling the machine during the turning than during working. Consequently all of the wheels 3, l need not serve as driving wheels during the turning move ment. Therefore the mechanical devices may be somewhat simplified without jeopardizing the result wished, and such a simplified device is shown in detail in digs. 3 and e.

A coupling 21 is provided on the hub portion of the outer wheels 3, and on the shaft 9 is a slidable part 2 3 of the couplin This part 23 may be acted upon by a spring and is in a suitable way connected with the hub oi the wheels 4;, so that it takes part in the rotation of these wheels. In the drawing this connection is shown as consisting of bars 2% going through the hubs or the wheels The bars 24; are at one end con nected with the part 23 of the coupling and at the other ends on the inside of the wheels 4: with a grooved disk 25, by means oi which the coupling can be controlled. These details may of course be varied in many different ways. \Vhen the machine is driven in the ordinary way the couplings 21, 2.3 are thrown in gear and the two Wheels on the same side of the machine serve as driving wheels. When turning the couplings are thrown out of gear, and then the wheels 3 are free to rotate in either direction and do not serve for propelling but only for carrying the machine. then turning the wheels 4 are of course with regard to the rotation independent of each other by means of the differential gear 11 on the shaft 8.

In very heavy machines or when the distance between the plant rows is small more than two wheels may be used at each side, and it is not necessary that the central planes of the wheels coincide with the cen- 1.. A mechanism of the character described, consisting of a frame, a pair of ground \VllQGl at the forward end of said frame, a pair oi: ground wheels at the rear end of sald frame, a pair or wheels spaced away from said rear wheels, individual clutches for each set of rear wheels, for operating said clutches and driving means for said wheels.

2. A mechanism of the character described, consisting of a frame, a front axle in said frame, ground wheels on said axle, a rear axle in said frame, two pairs of wheels on said axle in spaced relation, clutch mechanisms for operatively connecting either oi the inner wheels with the outer wheels, a driving means, and gear and chain connections between the driving means and wheels.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence o t two subscribing witnesses.

OLDF FRANKMAQI. Vitnesses FRED FLnRoN, HJ. BRANZELL. 

